the studio

the seatown is my studio

a cluttered space

stretching along a beach 

between two hills

haphazard houses

shops, a wharf

each day different 

yet somehow constant

glint of sun on sea

fog covering it all on some days

trolling for images

i walk the bright streets

take in the sea smell

voices, faces, flight of birds

my easel the beachfront bench

my canvass the wan, white page

my brush the pen I hold

and I paint in words 

the genius of what I see

masterworks of sunlight, sea and shadow

remembering

a young father

walks with two girls

down the hill

toward the collection

of yellow and mauve shops

in this section

of the town

that

from the edge of the ocean

looks out

on the world

i can tell

that the girl’s fervor

is making this jaunt

less the quiet, contemplative walk

he was hoping for

and more a rousing fun party

led by their whims

and i think

of my daughter

when she was

that young

how

i would hold her

in my two hands

aloft

her eyes bursting

with light

then hug her

her hair so soft

against my beard

and I want to say

be patient dad

now is the time

for such romps

take them in your arms

squeeze them

love them

ply them for stories

because the day

will come

soon

at the edge of the world

when your heart will break

from remembering